German Roaches

 

German Cockroach

The German cockroach is one of the most common insect pests that invade homes. German roaches can be found in apartment buildings, restaurants, hospitals, stores and just about anywhere that food is kept. They will eat anything and migrate from one building to the next looking for their next meal. German roaches are known to contaminate food with bacteria. They also can destroy wallpaper and cause certain types of asthma.

Identification

Full grown adult German roaches will grow to be no longer than 5/8 of an inch. They are light brown or tan and they a set of wings, even though they cannot fly. The younger roaches look like smaller adults but with no wings. Parallel lines that extend from the head to the wings, helps identify this species of cockroach, one of 50 found in the United States.

This species of roach is especially fond of warm, moist environments.  Such places as behind sinks and dishwashers make great homes for German roaches. These scavengers will eat whatever food is in their path, such as starches, sugars, grease and proteins. They will consume wallpaper glue and the glue that binds books together. German roaches move about mostly in the nighttime hours and spend the day in whatever crevice or crack that they fit into. Because they have  a wide and flat body, they easily get into the smallest of cracks so are rarely spotted in the daytime.

Growth Stages

The German cockroach goes through three stages of development. First, it is an egg which the female roach lays in an egg capsule that is less than a quarter inch in length. These capsules can contain four dozen separate eggs and the females will produce as many as eight of these capsules in their life. The capsule stays attached to the female until it is time for them to hatch, which takes up to 30 days. The roach, once hatched, will undergo a transformation from a nymph to an adult over many weeks. The average life span of a German cockroach is less than seven months. The females outlive the males by a few weeks.

Dangers of Infestations

Food can be ruined and spoiled by the German cockroach. They secrete a foul smelling substance that infiltrates food and ruins its flavor. Large populations of German roaches can make a building stink from this substance. Bacteria and viruses can attach to German roaches resulting in the spread of such illnesses as diarrhea and dysentery. The bacteria and viruses are carried on the roach’s legs and back, so they end up in the food the roach gets into. The shed skins of these insects and their waste products cause allergic reactions in some people and can trigger an asthma attack in asthmatics, as well cause some types of asthma.

Prevention

To keep German roaches from infesting your home, you will want to repair any leaky water pipes and faucets. Also seal any cracks in the foundation of your house to keep roaches out. Also, there should be no openings around windows, doors and air conditioners for them to squeeze through. Keeping things in your home clean is vital. Not just the surface but also frequently cleaning out under stoves,sinks and refrigerators. Kitchen cabinets need to be cleaned out often. Food spills should be picked up immediately and all foods need to be kept in tight containers. Dirty dishes should be washed and never left overnight. Be sure to keep garbage away from your house. Pet dishes shouldn’t be left with food in them.

Sourced from: mypestprevention.com